Unpacking the relationship between adolescents' perceived school climate and negative emotions: the chain mediating roles of school belonging and social avoidance and distress.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Guided by Self-System Processes Theory, Social Support Theory, and Stress and Coping Theory, this study investigates how perceived school climate influences adolescents' negative emotions through the chain mediation of school belonging and social avoidance and distress. It also examines demographic differences across gender and grade and tests the structural invariance of the proposed model.

Method

A cross-sectional survey of 1,507 Chinese adolescents in grades 5-9 was conducted using validated scales. Independent samples t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to examine gender and grade differences in the key variables. Structural equation modeling (SEM) tested the hypothesized mediation model, while multigroup SEM assessed structural invariance across subgroups.

SUBMITTER: Chen W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11748506 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature